Saturday, February 22, 2014

Microsoft’s Xbox Live cloud compute platform can scale up as high as we need it to,” said Jon ‘Slothy’ Shiring, the engineer in charge of Titanfall’s smooth launch. “We had the alpha, but that was fairly small. Alpha proved that the tech works. Beta, the thing we wanted to test was what happens when you scale it really high, see what breaks and then fix that so we don’t have to find out on launch day.

“People are expecting the game to have problems, and I want to make sure that it doesn’t. I want to do everything I can to make sure that it launches well. The Xbox Live cloud compute platform is all brand new. Forza used it a little bit, but they weren’t as reliant on it as we are. The game is completely reliant on it. If it’s down, nobody can play.” Read More at Polygon

Both the Xbox One and PS4 are doing great when it comes to sales numbers. Many users get upset when numbers are bought up, but it has a lot less to do with console wars and a lot more about the health of gaming.

During Sony’s keynote at CES 2014 in Las Vegas Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House announced updated worldwide sales numbers for the PS4.
Sony’s new console sold through (meaning to customers) 4.2 million units since its North American launch on November 15th until December the 28th, marking an extremely successful launch despite the situation of the economy, that can’t exactly be defined positive. For the sake of comparison Microsoft announced yesterday that it sold 3 million Xbox Ones before the end of 2013. DualShockers

Monday, January 6, 2014

In a note to the media today, Xbox corporate vice president Yusuf Mehdi announced that Xbox One sold through 3 million units in 13 countries by the end of 2013.

“It’s been incredible to see Xbox One selling at a record-setting pace for Xbox, and we were honored to see Xbox One become the fastest-selling console in the U.S. during our launch month in November. Since our launch, demand for Xbox One has been strong, selling out throughout the holidays at most retailers worldwide. We are continuing to work hard to deliver additional consoles to retailers as fast as possible,” Mehdi commented.

Microsoft noted that further data on the Xbox business would be revealed as part of the company’s earnings announcement on January 23.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

News broke this week that Youtube is in the process of making changes that could affect the future of gameplay videos showing up on Youtube. In this commentary, I wanted to discuss the future changes and how they will impact youtubers who are in networks. But I also wanted to go a little bit deeper and also talk about the future of gaming networks on Youtube. Are gaming networks really needed? I'm sure you've all heard the numerous statements by individuals who claim that if you want to upload gameplay videos - then you must join a network. Is this REALLY true? Or have the networks simply gotten away with this myth that you need them a lot more than they need you.

Who has the best network? Machinima, IGN, TGN, Fullscreen, Screencast, Maker Studios, Curse, RPM, Social Blade, Yeosch, Game Station, YTGamers???? Noticed how so many started popping up after it was clear that Machinima was making boat loads of money off of people? Do you think these networks reached out to every single publisher / developer in the world and got permission? And the companies said - only some 3rd party network can have this permission?

Friday, December 6, 2013

Last year, Gamerfitnation started an event called the Online Shooters Ceasefire to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting. The event asked that gamers take a break from playing their favorite online shooters and put down their digital weapons. The event sponsors were apparently pleased with the support that they received last year and are hoping to turn this into a yearly event. So once again, Gamerfitnation is asking that we put down our pixel guns on December 21st 2013.

While I believe the organizers probably have the best of intentions when it comes to honoring the victims of Sandy Hook and the victims of gun violence in general - the fact remains that good intentions don't always equate to good ideas. In this commentary, i'll break down why I won't be participating in #OSCeasefire and why I believe this is the wrong approach from gamers when it comes to gun violence.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

A walkthrough of one of the latest features that has been added to the Battlefield series. In Battlefield 4, PC players can take advantage of dual screens or a laptop in order to have a full layout of the map throughout the entire game. Next gen console players on the PS4 and Xbox One can also use this feature by accessing it on a tablet. In this video, I cover how this would be useful for you and your team on the Battlefield.

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Xbox One version of Battlefield 4 brings a few added features thanks to the Kinect. In this video, I'll give you a walkthrough of the voice commands and also show you the leaning and head-tracking features that are built into the game.

Friday, November 29, 2013

After a week of owning the Xbox One, I thought i'd put together a list of items that I like and don't like with the new system. In this commentary, i'll cover the Kinect, UI, party system and other features that have stood out during my time with the console.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

A demonstration showing the Xbox One Kinect voice commands. In order to make sure the commands work as designed, it is important to know exactly what you need to say in order to navigate. Once you learn what to say, it becomes second nature. Some elements would obviously be faster using the controller, but there is no doubt that many of these items are much faster by using voice.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Microsoft announced today that the Xbox One will be receiving an official Youtube App on launch day.

Love YouTube? Love Xbox? You can now watch your favorite videos and channels with the YouTube app for Xbox One. Check out videos in 1080p glory (Slip and Slide LAUNCH RAMP anyone?), catch the latest videos from your subscriptions like Polaris, or see trending videos from categories like Music and Sports.

The YouTube app for Xbox One also makes it easier to find and watch whatever you want:
Voice - Control the app just by saying "YouTube" wherever you are in the app. Commands like play, pause, and fast forward will instantly pop up on screen.
Gesture - Grab the screen to scroll through videos, and use your hand to pick which one you want to watch.

Monday, November 18, 2013

A commentary examining the recent issues surrounding the PS4 launch. Reports are coming in from multiple news outlets and social media sites that a number of Playstation 4 customers have been having issues with disc drives, Red Lights of Death, and Blue Lights of Death. Several consoles are being reported as DOA (Dead on Arrival), while others are reporting that their console stopped working after a few days of use.

Many of the stories reference Amazon reviews, but also point out that many of the reviews could possibly be faked by Xbox trolls. In this video, I examine the Amazon reviews and give thoughts on the issue of whether this story is being over or under reported by journalists.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

PS4 or Xbox One? The choice for which console I will be buying this holiday season hasn't been easy. A lot has changed and happened in the past few months since the reveal of both consoles at E3. I have had both the PS4 and Xbox One pre-ordered since the day they became available. But at the end of the day, I can only afford to buy one at this point in time. So this was my thought process for deciding between the PS4 and Xbox One.

Monday, November 11, 2013

We are only days away from the launch of the next-generation of consoles. As a gamer on both the PC and the consoles, I hear a lot of PC gamers question why in the world people would choose a console over the all powerful PC. For many, the debate about which console is more powerful is silly considering that neither come close to top of the line rigs that are already out today. The Xbox One and the PS4 are already coming out of the gate behind on technology. So while I understand, I may be fighting an uphill battle when it comes to specs. I hope you indulge me for the next few minutes as I explain why the consoles are so appealing to many gamers like myself.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Battlefield 4 Levolution - In this video, I guide you through all of Battlefield 4's multiplayer maps. Each level is designed with its own levolution event that can be triggered. These events will alter the map in some way or another. Battlefield 4 is currently available on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. It will also be releasing on the Xbox One and PS4 at launch.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

VGN News: A Microsoft Engineer talks about hooking up the PS4 or Xbox 360 to the Xbox One. We also cover the full list of Entertainment Apps coming to Xbox One & PS4. If you found this video informative, then be sure to let me know with that Like button :)

Friday, November 8, 2013

As launch day approaches for both the PS4 and Xbox One. Many toxic fans on both sides of the aisle have went into battle day in and day out to praise their machine of choice, while degrading the competition as often as possible. The console wars are in full swing. But between the arguments about 1080P, the cloud, past policy reversals and so on. Can a winner now finally be declared? Can you write everything down on paper and walk away and say, this is the better console for all gamers?

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Reviews are beginning to roll in for Call of Duty Ghosts on various platforms. But one of the more interesting bit of information found within the reviews, is the fact that many notorious sites are claiming the PS4 version of Ghosts has numerous technical and framerate issues.

Polygon: ”Much has been said about the fact that the PlayStation 4 version of the game runs at a native 1080p, and while that may be true, the game did struggle to maintain a steady frame rate, especially in hectic multiplayer matches. The PS3 version of the game ran into similar problems, whereas the Xbox 360 version maintained a steady 60 frames per second.”

Joystiq: “A key pillar of the Call of Duty experience has always been rock-solid 60 frames per seconds gameplay. On Xbox 360, Ghosts maintains this mandate. The PlayStation 4 version, however, has noticeable technical issues, sometimes slowing to a crawl, particularly during set-piece moments with multiple effects. One specific moment I was able to replicate multiple times on PS4 was a campaign scene that ran smoothly on Xbox 360 and PS3, while the game chugged On PlayStation 4. These frame rate hitches happen throughout the campaign on PS4 and, in a series known for its Hollywood-inspired bombast, it detracted from the experience.”

IGN: “On the current-gen versions Ghosts looks nearly identical, though I did encounter occasional framerate issues during the single-player campaign on PS3 and PS4.”

Edge: “While the PS4 version runs at a native 1080p, that precious framerate drops briefly before checkpoints, which are at least placed so that the odd stutter never affects gunplay.”

GiantBomb: “Additionally, the PlayStation 4 version has a handful of noticeable dips in its frame rate. This usually seemed to happen when a lot of smoke or other effects were on-screen, but occasionally it occurred in multiplayer for reasons I couldn’t even guess at.”

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Sony's stock took a nosedive this week after a series of negative reports came out surrounding missing PS4 features, as well as information about the financial status of the company. In this video, we talk about the latest news and developments surrounding the information that came out this week in regards to Planetside 2, DLNA, PS Vita Remote Play, profits being slashed by 40% and more.

Friday, November 1, 2013

The resolution shot heard around the world was fired earlier this week when it was announced that Call of Duty Ghosts would be running at 1080P native, and the Xbox One will be upscaled from 720P to 1080p. Sony fans in particular were pleased, and it didn't take long before Sony was joining in on the celebration.

Shortly after it was confirmed that the Playstation 4 was running at a higher resolution, Sony Germany sent out a photo on twitter and facebook that has caused a bit of a controversy. The picture as you can see below is simply a artwork image for CoD Ghosts that has been photoshopped to add the text "60 FPS / 1080P" and the hashtag "#4ThePlayers".

After posting the image, Sony tried to backtrack and attempted to remove the image from both their facebook and twitter page. Of course, we all know that once something is on the internet - it is there forever. So even though the images are now pulled, there is plenty of tracks that lead back to where it originated.

But my question is, why delete it? Sony should be proud of the fact that their machine is outperforming the competition when it comes to native resolution. They simply posted an image that had accurate facts on the picture. I don't think the scandal was the image itself being posted, but rather the attempted removal and cover-up. What did you think of the image? Was it tacky or awesome? Was Sony right to pull it down? or did it cause more controversy by removing it?

Dualshockers: Sony Germany takes jab at Microsoft over Call of Duty's Resolution on Social Media, then Deletes it All

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Only in Battlefield 4 - Large Farva / Swaink / and I experiencing levolution for the first time on Lancang Dam. Check out their channels.
Large Farva: http://www.youtube.com/xxLargeFarvaxx
Swaink: http://www.youtube.com/xSwainkx

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Electronic Arts has revealed that Respawn's Titanfall will remain an exclusive title for the Xbox One, Xbox360, and PC. This has left a number of fans scratching their heads and asking why would a move like this be made. Isn't there more money to be made if you have a multi-platform release? Why would EA turn down an opportunity to bring its new IP to the Sony Playstation?

It is my belief that there could be a couple of different factors for this decision. The first, and probably most obvious possibility is that Microsoft paid a nice chunk of change in order to keep Titanfall an exclusive to Xbox and PC. Microsoft has a large money chest that they certainly don't mind dipping into when it comes to their Xbox division. It has been previously reported that Microsoft is investing $1 billion into games for the Xbox One. This money was meant for game studios, and for securing exclusives for the Xbox One.

The other possibility for Titanfall remaining exclusive to Xbox and PC could be the cloud. When Titanfall was first revealed, Giantbomb sat down and did a roundtable interview with Respawn's developers. This interview was full of info on how the cloud worked and some of the benefits. For some reason, Giantbomb has pulled the original video with the interview. But I had transcribed the interview from an earlier post where I compared the Xbox One and PS4 cloud.

Respawn:
When you look at it. Microsoft and Google are really the only two people who have a “Cloud”. A technical description of a cloud. They have data centers all over the world with tons of fast machines in them and they can slice them up however they want and turn them into virtual machines. And what they have done is exposed that in a very awesome way for Xbox One games. So if you’re in Connecticut and you want to play a game, we can say okay, here is the data center that you are going to go to because its the closest one and you have a 30 ping to it. And there’s no empty servers, so lets spin one up for you in 5 seconds and off you go.

We don’t have to provision hardware, we don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of servers and rack them in different places, it’s just there. It’s easy. It gets rid of all that fear of how this is all actually going to work. We have that available to use.

Let’s get crazy here and say it (Titanfall) gets popular in Japan. If we didn’t think it was going to be popular there and we didn’t buy a bunch of servers to put there, we would be screwed. (Cloud) Helps alleviate those types of problems. – You couldn’t make this game without the dedicated server support

Giantbomb:
So what do you do on the PC? Do you have to replicate elements of that structure for your version or do they have something you can use?

Respawn:We won’t get all the niceties on PC that you get on Xbox One. There will have to be some engineering of things

The Titanfall developers have been pretty open with the fact that the Xbox One cloud plays a major role in the games development. They also point out, that just because the game will be on PC - it doesn't mean that the PC version will have all of the bells and whistles that come with the Xbox One version.

So was it money or infrastructure that made this decision? Maybe it was a mixture of both. One day we may hear the backstory on what really happened. Until then, Respawn has hinted that future games, (Possibly Titanfall 2) could be made for the PS4. And some of us still remember that exclusive Mass Effect and how that turned out in the end.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Recently, a video from Youtuber ReviewTechUSA has gone viral. In the video the commentator mentions a number of different rumors that he has recently heard from anonymous sources regarding launch troubles for both the Xbox One and PS4. I'll leave a link below so that you can watch the entire clip, but since the video debuted, a number of websites and members of the gaming community have since lambasted Rich from ReviewTechUSA for many of his points during his commentary. I'm not going to cover each rumor he posted, but I do want to cover one of his main points that he focused so much on. PS4 DRM.

The other day, I told you the PS4 would have a day 1 patch that would unlock a number of features on the console. According to Rich, it is also meant to remove the restrictive DRM policies that Sony was going to implement on the PS4. He claims that once Sony witnessed the bashing the Microsoft took after they revealed their DRM 24hr connection policy, Sony pulled the plugged and changed their DRM policy at the last minute.

So in this video, I break down whether or not this was even a possibility. I also discuss how stories like this might impact your buying decisions.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Sony recently revealed that the PS4 will require a day 1 patch that will unlock a number of features. Some of those features include online multiplayer, blu ray/dvd playback, party chat, broadcasting and more. But there was also a nice surprise inside the patch notes. The PS4 will feature dashboard navigation via voice commands. Furthermore, you can use voice commands with your microphone that comes packaged in the PS4 to enjoy this feature. So no need to have a PS4 camera in order to use voice commands with the PS4 menu system.

Launch day patches are now the norm it seems. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have or will have a day one patch that will be needed to unlock the full power of the consoles. It is worth noting however that both the PS4 and Xbox One allow for downloads in the background. It has been confirmed that on the PS4, users will be able to jump on and enjoy a single player game on the PS4 while their patch is downloading in the background.

The system software update 1.50 is approximately 300 MB, and will include the following features:

Remote Play
Users will be able to access PS4 titles displayed on their living room TVs and play them on a PS Vita system over Wi-Fi networks by using PS4 Link (Depending on network environment or titles, remote play performance may vary outside of the home). We anticipate that most PS4 titles will be playable on the PS Vita system through Remote Play.

Second Screen
Users can use the PS4 Link application for the PS Vita system, and PlayStation App for iPhone, iPad, and Android-based smartphones and tablets, to use these devices as second screens in supported titles.

Record, take screenshots, and upload gameplay effortlessly
The PS4 system provides dedicated, “always on” video encoding systems that enables seamless uploading of gameplay. Users can share their epic triumphs by simply hitting the Share button on DualShock 4, take screenshots or scan through the last 15 minutes of gameplay, tag it and return to the game—the video uploads as the user plays. At the PS4 system’s launch in North America, users will be able to share their images and videos with friends on Facebook and screenshots with followers on Twitter, though users will need to sign up for individual accounts to use Facebook and Twitter.

Broadcast and spectate gameplay
The PS4 system also enhances social spectating by enabling users to broadcast their gameplay in real-time to game fans around the globe, using Ustream and Twitch live internet streaming services (users will need to sign up for individual accounts to use Ustream and Twitch). There are two ways for users to view live broadcasts. First, the Live from PlayStation application on PS4 aggregates streams from all PlayStation users. Second, users can spectate friends’ PS4 gameplay from PCs, and applications such as Ustream, Twitch, and browsers, which are installed on their mobile devices. These applications can be easily started up via PlayStation App, and users can also use these applications to post comments to gameplay broadcasts. Furthermore, users with PlayStation Camera can stream camera images and microphone sounds along with their live gameplay broadcast.

Play as you download
This feature enables users to play supported digital titles as they are being downloaded. The time it takes to begin playing will vary depending on game data size and network environments, and not all titles will support this feature When a game is purchased, users can start playing after PS4 downloads a portion of the data, while the rest of the game is downloaded in the background during actual gameplay.

Multi log-in
A maximum of four users can log-in to a single PS4 system simultaneously. These players can use their own save data to play games, and also earn trophies on their own Sony Entertainment Network accounts even when playing a multiplayer game together on a single PS4 system.

Party (Voice chat)
By using the Mono Headset bundled with the PS4 system, users will be able to chat with up to eight friends enjoying different applications or games. Furthermore, users can use Party to chat between PS4 and PS Vita systems.

Face recognition and voice commands
Users with PlayStation Camera will be able to register their facial image onto their PS4 system, and login to their system using facial recognition instead of DualShock 4. Furthermore, users can use either the microphone of the Mono Head set connected to DualShock 4, or PlayStation Camera to navigate through the PS4 home screen (PlayStation Dynamic Menu) with voice commands to start up games and shutdown the system, among other features; please refer to PS4’s online manual for recognizable voice commands.

Background music player
Users can enjoy gameplay while listening to music in the background with Music Unlimited, a cloud-based digital music service. Users can also voice chat with friends while listening to music. Learn more about Music Unlimitedhere.

Online Multiplayer
PlayStation Plus members will be able to play PS4 titles online with other players via the network. PS Plus makes it easy for members to join available online multiplayer matches in a variety of ways, including the ability to easily join a game from a live stream broadcast or Party voice chats.

Blu-ray Disc and DVD player
Users can enjoy not only gaming on their PS4 system, but also Blu-ray and DVD video contents. When using for the first time, users must connect to the internet to activate this feature.

Some features will not be available at launch, such as “suspend/resume mode” which is a feature that keeps the PS4 system in a low power state and promptly takes users back to their game. We will provide additional information about system software update version 1.50 and features available at the PS4 system’s North America launch, and features that will be available after launch, in the near future.

A lot of discussion has recently been made about PS4 & Xbox One games having 1080P Native and 60FPS. The latest rumors hitting the internet are suggesting that a number of Xbox One games may not hit this coveted resolution, and may instead be 720P in some cases. In this video, I discuss the latest controversies surrounding resolution and talk about what this means for the future of the Xbox One console. Does this prove once and for all that the PS4 is more powerful?

Saturday, October 26, 2013

As gamers prepare for the launch of the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, there may be something you might want to start considering. Who are you going to be online? Both Sony and Microsoft are rolling out real name ids online for the PS4 and Xbox One. The idea is to connect friends with their real life friends and family, and also complete the social network circle for people who are on sites like facebook. The real name id is entirely optional on both the PS4 and Xbox One. Users still have the option to pick an anonymous gamertag if they want, just like they can today.

While some people may not have any problems deciding what they want to do either way. There may be some who are on the fence. In this video, I talk about some of the pros and cons for using and not using your real name on the next gen consoles.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

EA is getting ready to release Need for Speed Rivals on the next-gen consoles. But there is one console that won't be getting it. The Nintendo Wii U. According to the creative director for Need for Speed, EA sunk a lot of money and extra work into the Wii U version of Most Wanted. Needless to say, the extra investment didn't pay off.

"It didn't really sell , in terms of the Wii U market. I would love for it to have, because we put so much effort into that, trust me. I'd love for it to be way bigger than it was, and the same for the Vita.

Now the Nintendo Wii U did have some good news also this week. On September 20th, Nintendo cut the price of the Wii U by $50 to $299. Since then, they have seen sales increase by 200%. Even with the boost however, it is going to take a lot more to get Nintendo back in the game where I think they should be.

If I were sitting on the board of Nintendo. I would say,it is time to get back to the basics. Nintendo built the console generation that we have today as far as i'm concerned. I know there were consoles out before Nintendo, but Nintendo took the concept and lept 20 feet out in front. How did they do it? They didn't need fancy graphics. They didn't need a million dollar script from some Hollywood director. They didn't need an army of voice actors or body doubles. They just needed you to sit down and try one of their games. Mario, Zelda, and a host of others. And once you did, you fell in love.

Nintendo became a brand that will live forever within the gaming world. And you did it without gimmicks.

Do you remember the original Nintendo controller? It wasn't the most..shall I say, ergonomically designed controller ever produced. But it did the job. Years have passed since those days. But gamers have continued to embrace the controller. And here we stand in 2013, debating who will have the best controller. Microsoft or Sony? But not Nintendo. Why is that? Why has Nintendo alienated so many gamers by pushing away the one input device that every other console gamer wholeheartedly embraces? I know that the Wii was a tremendous success, but the Wii U obviously isn't.

Let me get to the point. The problem with the Wii U is not the loading times with games or apps, although it is troublesome. Your problem isn't great games, because I am still dying to play Mario Kart and a boat load of others. But this tablet controller - this oversized gameboy that doubles as my controller is getting in the way of my purchase. The tablet controller drives up the cost of the Wii U by a large margin. I'm not sure what it is, but it can't be cheap. Nintendo has failed to show me any game that requires, or makes me want to use this device. Sure there are games that use it well, but well enough to warrant an entire console purchase? As far as i'm concerned, I haven't been sold on the controller. And I am tempted to call it a gimmick. Now I hear the same complaints about the Xbox One's Kinect, but at least their system functionality heavily incorporates their device. Therefore, I don't see it near as gimmicky as an extra screen between my legs.

When you compare buying a $299 Wii U to a $399 PS4 - it seems like a no-brainer in most peoples heads. They would choose Playstation. Wii U currently lacks the games, which they are working on. But it also isn't at a price point that is anywhere near what i'm willing to pay. Especially since I have no desire to play with the expensive special controller.

Nintendo. Ditch the tablet. Sell a bundle that doesn't include the tablet controller, and create one that includes the Wii U Pro Controller. You could call it the Wii U Pro Edition. Slap a slick coat of paint on it and throw it on the shelf. The Nintendo system that plays next-gen games with a controller that everyone is already comfortable with. Get back to focusing on the games! A Nintendo Pro Edition for $199 all of a sudden looks a lot better when you stack it up against the PS4 $399 and Xbox One $499 Price Point.

If you ditch the tablet, you lower the cost of manufacturing - you lower the price point so that more people can buy it - you sell more units which means more developers are willing to invest in putting their games on your system - What about this doesn't make sense? Am I alone here? Post below and let me know what you think Nintendo should do to boost sales of the Wii U. Can they make a comeback?? I hope so. I sure don't want to see them become irrelevant.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

More delays have been announced for the next-gen consoles. Sony has delayed its launch title Driveclub. Sony's launch lineup is already pretty slim when it comes to console exclusives, so this doesn't help. But customers who pre-ordered a PS4 Watchdog / Driveclub bundle are having bigger troubles from retailer Target. Target has been canceling pre-orders and telling customers that they can try to pre-order again next week on a first come first serve basis.

Things aren't looking much better for Microsoft. Xbox One headsets will require an adaptor to work with current gen headsets. But not only that, the adaptor is also required for new headsets. And it turns out that the adaptor won't be available until 2014. It has been mentioned that you can still use the digital optical on the console to hear game audio, but you won't be able to chat.

It is clear that both of these consoles are still under construction as we approach the release date.

Friday, October 18, 2013

In a recent interview, Patrick Bach made a few admissions about developing Battlefield 4 for the next gen Xbox One and PS4 consoles.

Q: The schedule for the launch of the next generation isn't quite as busy as you might think, especially with Watch_Dogs getting delayed. That's potentially a good thing for you, leaving it open for you to become a really big early seller. What are your expectations?

Patrick Bach: Well we've been very aggressive with Battlefield 4 in that we want to be out at launch with the next gen consoles. I think people might not grasp how hard that is, to develop a game at the same time as the hardware. We've been struggling quite a lot to keep up with the changes we've seen - both sides need to adapt and you end up being late. Everything is very complicated. Battlefield itself is a really complicated game, so it doesn't make our lives any easier.

So we knew we'd set ourselves a tough challenge, but people on the outside seem to think that because there are going to be launch titles, it's easy. What are we spending all our time doing? They don't understand how hard it is! Talking about Watch_Dogs, I don't blame them, there are times when we've considered doing the same thing - luckily we've overcome those hurdles and thought about what the game actually is on the next gen. We've had an excellent team working that out at the same time as the game itself, which is a big struggle. We can see that a lot of the next gen games coming are, arguably, lesser when it comes to the scope of features because of this problem.

This morning, Sony Brazil announced that the PS4 will be 3,999 Brazilian Reals. That translates into $1,850 US dollars. For comparison, the Xbox One is R$ 2,200 or $1,016 US dollars. So why does the PS4 cost so much more in Brazil? Sony explained that between 60 to 70 percent of the cost was made up from import fees and taxes. Brazil does have notoriously high taxes on certain imports, but it still doesn't exactly answer the question as to why the Xbox One is almost half the price of the PS4. Not unless Microsoft didn't have to pay the same fees may be due to production factories in Brazil. That currently is the $1,850 question.

But what options do Brazilians have when it comes to buying the PS4?

Since both consoles are region free, buying online may be one option that will cut down the price tag. But if you are the more adventurous type, and maybe in need of a good vacation. Then it may be time to start planning a trip.

Your Battlefield 4 Beta experience has helped change and shape the full game when it launches. That's according to DICE. BF4 Changelog

Low frame rate/stuttering
PC players may have experienced trouble in the Beta getting the game running at a good frame rate. Rest assured that we're using the information we received to optimize the performance for the launch of the game

Stuck on loading screen
We have identified some of the reasons why players, mainly on PC, were getting stuck on the loading screen

High CPU usage during the Beta
CPU usage could sometimes skyrocket for dual, quad and six-core processors. This was a true Beta, and as such all the crash reports that were generated during this period will actually help us make a better game.

Controller layouts (X360/PS3)
We've increased the available controller options in Battlefield 4, including the new controller layout and multiple alternatives. If you're more comfortable with the controls from Battlefield 3, we've got you covered. Just by bringing up the options menu, you can choose the "Legacy" layout, which is similar to that in Battlefield 3.

Empty server listings (X360/PS3)
While in the Server Browser you may have seen lists of empty servers. By changing the filter options, you'll be able to find populated servers that you can join. You can also use the "Quick Match" function to quickly get into the action.

The elevator catapult (All platforms)
Elevators were never designed to act as a catapult or teleporter. The bug where the elevator button would catapult you up into the air is fixed for the final game.

Gameplay Changes:

Infantry Changes
-Fixed how the player only receives a single local damage sound effect if he or she was the victim of a quick, clean kill.

-Reduced the fire rate of the AK12 in burst from 1000rpm to 750rpm

-Tweaked the compensator and muzzle brake so they're properly less accurate in sustained automatic fire.

-Reduced and rebalanced full auto accuracy based on rate of fire for all automatic weapons to balance low ROF weapons.

-Increased the default throw distance of the portable ammo and med packs

-Portable ammo packs now reload 2 magazines of bullets instantly and up a total of 4 magazines per pack over time. The player must stay on top of the ammo pack in order to benefit from all of the ammo reloading. Grenades, RPG's, and other explosive launchers do not benefit from the instant reload function of the Ammo Pack.

-Increased the muzzle flash of the 25mm and 40mm launchers

-Fixed an issue where the knife stab didn't align with the kill event.

-The revive time has been increased from 7s to 10s.

Vehicle Changes
-Fixed some descriptions of weapons for vehicles that incorrectly described the function of the weapon.

-Increased the damage of the Stinger and IGLA to 3 hits to kill attack choppers (was 25%, now 35%).

-Increased the speed of all TOW guided missiles to 75m/s from 50m/s so they can catch-up to fast vehicles like the Quad bike.

-Increased the sustained fire accuracy of the Coaxial LMG on armored vehicles

-Reduced the damage the 40mm and 25mm infantry weapons do to armored vehicles to highlight their anti-infantry role.

-Reduced the damage main gun on the IFVs against other armor to highlight their primarily anti-infantry role.

-Fixed an issue where the tank main gun did not correctly hit the center of the crosshair at all times.

-Multiple options are now available for controlling how your vehicles steer with a joystick on all platforms, as well as improved the responsiveness of steering while accelerating.

Locking Weapon Changes
-RPG7 and SMAW can no longer lock on to Laser Designated Targets

-Fixed some projectiles not warning vehicles when they were fired on a Laser Designated target. Reduced the lock on distance for RPGs, SMAW, and MBT LAW missiles to 350m from 500m

-All Laser Designated missiles now do a maximum of 90% damage to Attack and Scout helicopters (down from 100%)

General Changes
-The kill string in the score log now appears sooner, making the UI more responsive to a kill event.

-The aim assist on X360/PS3 has been tweaked to be more consistent at all ranges

Microsoft confirms that it is offering developers access to free dedicated multiplayer servers for the Xbox One.

Xbox Live Compute – dedicated servers! If you have played a lot of multiplayer games, you know that playing on dedicated game servers has advantages over peer-to-peer gameplay. With server-based multiplayer gaming, not only can more players play the game (think hundreds of players simultaneously), the gameplay will be much more reliable for the players. No more host migration interruptions, suboptimal experiences for the host, home network NAT constraints, or player cheating! Additionally, Xbox Live Compute can be utilized to persist game state so that your squad can live to fight another day without losing any progress. A great example of a game that is using Xbox Live Compute for their dedicated server multiplayer experience is “Titanfall.” ~Xbox

Monday, October 14, 2013

Last week, all of the major publications ran articles titled "Killzone Shadow Fall has Dedicated Servers." PS4 fans immediately took to the comment sections of these articles to praise this bit of news. But while most readers seemed to only catch the headline and decided to run with it, there was another group of PS4 fans who were upset by the news.

Here is the official Killzone Shadow Fall answer to how their multiplayer network is structured. This comes from an interview with the Playstation Blog.

Killzone Shadow Fall has dedicated servers hosted in various regions around the world. These servers do not run the logic of the game – they only act as a hub between the clients, forwarding network traffic from one player in game to all other players in game. This allows people with a slower connection or strict firewall settings to play without issues. Almost all logic relating to you (e.g. moving, shooting and taking damage) runs on your local PS4, with only a very small portion of the game logic (i.e. mission/scoring logic) running on the ‘session master’, one PS4 in the game selected for its connection quality.

Head over to the Killzone community forums, and you'll find more than a couple of threads where users are upset that they will not see true dedicated servers. If one PS4 is selected for its connection quality, then it is not a dedicated server in the sense that most gamers tend to think about dedicated servers. The system Killzone Shadow Fall will use is the system that many games already use. Several players are comparing it to the KZ2 server situation.

How did KZ2 Servers work?

@shystie1 Both! KZ2 uses dedicated servers for match making, game handling, stat tracking and so on, and P2P for the actual combat part.

Is it important or meaningful that Sony's flagship FPS doesn't have true dedicated servers? No. The important part is that the game doesn't lag online. So far, the devs sound pretty confident on Killzone running smoothly online. We won't have a definitive answer until the game releases. But I highly doubt they will screw the launch of Killzone up.

The biggest lesson, may be to actually read the article and not just assume that a headline perfectly sums up the contents of the story.

Sony's PR message has been loud and clear. 'Gamers should have a choice.' This has been a phrase that has been tossed around from several different PS4 representatives. Just a few days ago, a Sony rep poured salt in the wound by saying in a Eurogamer interview that the Xbox One is anti-consumer for forcing a camera.

"To force bundle a camera is probably against consumer choice. It does not offer the gamer the choice, and therefore the most sensible thing to do as a gamer friendly brand is give them the choice. " ~ Fergal Gera

But was the camera decision based truly around making sure that gamers had a choice? Or was it simply a decision made because of financial reasons?

Is it possible that Sony and Microsoft had exactly the same game plan? And has Sony REALLY abandoned that plan? Or have they just decided to drag it out?

Will we ever know the exact story of how it all went down? Maybe one day. But we do know where we stand today. And however Sony came about making the decision of what they have offered, there are few who can argue it wasn't brilliant in the moment. Sony is expected to outsell Xbox One this holiday season. And considering that the USA is Microsoft's stomping ground, that is a hell of an achievement right there. But Sony has even said that this is a marathon. And only gamers will decide who will win in the end.

Do you think Sony's decision to not include the camera will be a good long term decision?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

PS4 News Update: Many existing headsets will not work on the Playstation 4 on release date due to compatibility problems. Is Sony & Microsoft really ready for launch?

Yesterday, we received a note from Astro Gaming (whom we've recently spoken with about next-gen audio) indicating that their headsets will work for chat on the PlayStation 4… just not right away. This prompted us to dig a little deeper and find out what gaming headset owners can expect on November 15.

The answer we received from Sony is complicated. If you have a Sony-branded PULSE gaming headset (or the elite edition of that product), you will need to wait for a system update coming in the future. It seems that those will not work at all at launch.

Any other headset that relies on bluetooth for chat will not work at all. If you have something that relies on USB for chat (like the Astro mixamps and Astro A50 wireless system), you'll eventually be able to use those. An update will be coming in the future.

Any headset that relies on digital optical for game audio will continue to provide that out of the box. You just won't be able to chat yet.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Are you having trouble with the sniper rifles in Battlefield 4? Not sure where your bullets are landing? Can't see the bullet drop? If you are having problems adjusting to Battlefield 4's new recon class changes, then you aren't alone. In this video, I will show you how to get started on your sniping career in BF4. This video is a basic tutorial that walks you through using the sniper rifles and correctly adjusting your range. If you enjoyed this tutorial, then stay tuned. Once Battlefield 4 officially releases, i'll be doing a lot more Battlefield 4 Tutorials.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Now that the Battlefield 4 beta has been released to the open public, feedback is starting to roll in from the community. The vast majority of feedback that I have heard has been positive. Hit detection seems to be better than it ever has. The new elements like lean, and squad lines on the map are receiving a lot of praise. But of course, there are always going to be negative elements as well. Especially when you are talking about a beta.

One of the biggest complaints that I have heard so far about the beta, is dealing with the graphics on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. So I wanted to take a few moments to address these concerns.

Let us begin by reminding ourselves that this is a beta. It is not a demo of the final build of the game. You are playing an unfinished product. DICE has also said that this is an older build that we are playing of the game. Publishers must go through certification in order to submit content to the consoles. This can take up to a month in some places. So DICE had to submit this build of the game weeks ago.

The goal of the beta is to receive feedback on different elements inside the game. To test the servers - test the weapons etc. It is NOT to impress you with graphics.

The other thing to remember - is Battlefield 3 beta also looked bad! The final version of the game included an HD Texture pack. And it made a HUGE difference.

One thing that I will concede. I think the Shanghai Beta map looks a lot better when the C Tower is still standing. Once levelution has been initiated and the tower falls and covers everything in dust, then the map does have a very bland look to it which looks bad. But if you have ever seen the footage of the 9/11 Twin Towers falling - you'll know that it isn't a very pretty sight. The area does turn to dust color - and it is very bland.

Either way - take the beta for what it is. A chance to try out Battlefield 4 before it releases. It is not a preview of the exact game you will be getting on release date. I can assure you, that graphics are the last thing you should be concerned about when it comes to DICE and Battlefield 4. Even though the PC & next gen consoles will look vastly superior - I don't believe for a second that it will be a complete turd on Xbox 360 & PS3 graphically.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

The Battlefield 4 beta is finally open to all. After spending a few days tearing up the Battlefield, I decided i'd put together a video that highlights a few points and new features in the Battlefield 4 beta. These are my first impressions of the new BF4 gameplay.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Welcome back to the Battlefield soldier! As i've been doing for the last several years, I will be developing a number of tutorials and guides to help you improve your skills and hopefully enjoy the game a bit more by having a knowledgeable edge over your opponents. This first guide will introduce you to the basics. Whether you are looking for beginner tips, or you are a veteran of the Battlefield series - this should serve as a good reminder and guide to getting started in Battlefield 4.

[youtube_sc url="http://youtu.be/tG1oiaanUcQ"]

Back to the Basics: Options

I know that you are excited to get on the Battlefield and ready to start going to work on destroying your opponents. While you can survive by jumping in and smashing buttons to figure everything out, my first bit of advice is to just go to the options menu and have a look. PC players have the perk of doing a custom key binding, but console players are far more limited. Console players are also more likely to have trouble figuring out the controls because the default settings have changed. Spotting and driving vehicles are changed up enough that it will have veterans scratching their heads at first for a min. Knowing which buttons bring up the right tools at the right time is going to make your experience a lot more enjoyable from the start.

There are also other options including a color blind mode if you are having trouble distinguishing the colors on screen.

Pre-Spawn Gameplan:

The First thing you want to do before you spawn into the game, is be sure you are joined up in a squad. In Battlefield 4, squad size has been increased to 5. I recommend that you join a squad that is almost full. This will give you more spawn choices, and also give you better odds of getting squad perks once you get in game. (I'll talk about squad perks in another video)

Take a moment and look over the Battlefield. Pay attention to what bases you have - where your team is located - and what enemy armor is in the area. The last thing you want to do is spawn on a base with a enemy tank and you have a sniper rifle. Prepare your loadout for what you will be facing. If you are spawning in an area with enemy tanks. Bring an engineer with rockets. The other thing to note is your friendly vehicles that are empty. If you see that no one is using the tanks on your team. Jump In. Even if you aren't good - the only way to get better is to practice. Vehicles can turn the tide in any map on Battlefield 4. So make sure you aren't letting a good opportunity go to waste.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

When it comes to the next generation of consoles, what is it that separates the PS4 and Xbox One when it comes to features? If one were to look at a list of features on paper, it might seem like they have more in common, than differences. They both offer pay for online services; apps & digital entertainment; games & exclusives; play while downloading; region free gaming etc.

But what do they offer that is different?

Last week, I took a look at the top PS4 features. Now it's time to take a look at the Top Xbox One Features.

[youtube_sc url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGdrx3aaHgU"]

Controller: Impulse triggers - 4 motors inside the Xbox One controller allow developers to give feedback to your fingertips like never before. Each motor can be programmed to respond in different ways depending on the feedback of what is happening in game. Example: Racing - Driving over various terrain will give corresponding feedback to the controller. Driving over gravel will vibrate differently than driving over grass or asphalt. FPS games would let you 'feel' different weapons. If you empty the chamber, it will feel differently than when you are shooting a high powered rifle. And shooting a rifle will feel unique compared with firing a rocket launcher for example. Each motor is controlled separately, which allows developers to cue movement in only the parts of the controller they wish to use.

Reputation System Revamped: Smart matchmaking will filter the good players from the bad players. Anytime players are reported, or muted by fellow players - Xbox is evaluating their interactions. A player who is regularly misbehaving - or who is commonly reported or muted will lose reputation points and will be thrown in multiplayer matches with players who play similarly

Cloud Power: The cloud is going to offer Microsoft a number of different features. Developers can push out updates and new achievements with no delay. Games can be updated in real-time (Example: Sports games that use real player stats could be updated as games are played in real life.) Forza has shown that the Xbox AI can learn and adapt to human behavior. Microsoft is also giving all developers and publishers access to these servers at a very low rate. That most games should be on dedicated servers. (See Xbox One vs PS4 Cloud) (Watch also: Xbox One's $10 Billion Cloud)

Devkit: Every Xbox One will also double as a developer kit. This will give indies an opportunity to work with Xbox One, Windows 8, Kinect, the cloud, as well as apps.

Kinect 2.0:

1) All new voice algorithms allow for natural voice communications. Example: "Show me movies with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.". If you take advantage of the HDMI in with your TV box, you can also turn on your TV and control the volume with the sound of your voice without ever picking up the remote.2) Motion capture upgraded from original Kinect. The Kinect 2.0 can see in the dark, and can be used while you are on the couch. It can now track facial gestures, finger movements, weight balance, and more.

Monday, September 30, 2013

A commentary on the latest PS4 vs Xbox One poll numbers from Reuters. When gamer's were asked, which console they planned on picking up this holiday season. The results came back a little skewed. I break down the numbers and talk about my thoughts about why the Xbox One is currently lagging behind the PS4 with consumers.

More U.S. shoppers prefer Sony Corp's upcoming PlayStation 4 than Microsoft Corp's Xbox One, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, as the industry's two leading videogame console makers prepare to do battle this holiday season.

Asked about their interest in dedicated game devices, 26 percent of 1,297 people surveyed online last week say they are likely to purchase the new PlayStation 4 when available, versus 15 percent opting for the Xbox One.

The rift widens among those below the age of 40. Of that group of 408 people, 41 percent picked Sony's PS4 versus 27 percent for Microsoft's Xbox One, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from Sept 23 to Sept 27.

Friday, September 27, 2013

A recent Pew Research poll came out with statistics on how many American's are living without internet. It turns out that 15% of the population is not traveling on the world wide web. It's also worth noting that a majority of people who are not connected said they had no interest in getting on the internet in the future. Could you unplug from the internet?

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

In this commentary, I discuss a few unique features about the PS4 that have captured my attention. While there are plenty of features that both the Xbox One and PS4 share, there are a number of features that are exclusive to each console. Here are some features that you will only find on the Playstation 4 console.

I will soon be doing a Xbox One video as well, and intend on doing an in-depth look at both consoles as the release date gets closer. Stay tuned, and thanks for watching.

Destructoid wrote a preview of the Xbox One where we learned a few more details about the Xbox. In this commentary, we cover new information about the Xbox One friends list, Kinect features, and we learn that Youtube and Facebook sharing will not be available for launch.